Injury Update: Setback could sideline Alexander Zverev for rest of 2022; Simona Halep undergoes nose surgery

A return in 2022 could be off the table for Alexander Zverev.

The 2020 US Open finalist was expected to be back this week from the right ankle injury he sustained during his Roland Garros semifinal with Rafael Nadal, but announced his withdrawal from the German Davis Cup team in Hamburg on Monday.

Having undergone ankle surgery to repair three torn ligaments in June, Zverev described the latest setback as a bone edema. The 25-year-old disclosed that overtraining may have caused the additional source of pain.

“I won’t be able to participate here and it is not a question of days, it is more a question of weeks or most likely even months,” he said at the team’s press conference.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t run or walk anymore.”

Germany is in Group C alongside Australia, Belgium and France. The top two finishing nations from this round-robin phase will advance to the knockout stage of the Davis Cup Finals.

Zverev will stick around this week to support his teammates. Yannick Hanfmann was named as his replacement in the lineup that includes Oscar Otte, Jan-Lennard Struff, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.

Former world No. 1 Simona Halep also posted a health update Monday. The two-time major winner had a nose procedure to address breathing and blockage issues.

“I will need a few weeks of rest before I can start again any physical activity,” she said.

A pre-tournament favorite at the US Open, Halep was stunned in the first round by Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur.